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Who are you caring for?
Which best describes their mobility?
How well are they maintaining their hygiene?
How are they managing their medications?
Does their living environment pose any safety concerns?
Fall risks, spoiled food, or other threats to wellbeing
Are they experiencing any memory loss?
Which best describes your loved one's social life?
Acknowledgment of Disclosures and Authorization
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington. Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services. APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid. We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour. APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment. You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints. Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights. APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.I agree that: A.I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information"). B.APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink. C.APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site. D.If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records. E.This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year. F.You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
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Mostly Independent
Your loved one may not require home care or assisted living services at this time. However, continue to monitor their condition for changes and consider occasional in-home care services for help as needed.
Remember, this assessment is not a substitute for professional advice.
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Our mom is 97 and largely home bound with care givers. She currently has Medicare and AARP. We are trying to conserve her funds to extend her length of stay in her home with caregivers so are looking at potentially changing her Medicare plan.
I would caution you to be absolutely certain that any changes do not effect her doctors or care providers.
My 93 year old friend was convinced to change, to save a few dollars, only to find out after the fact that NONE of her doctors were on the new plan, it has taken her over a year and a half to find new doctors.
She was also very surprised to find out she now has copays that far exceed annually what she was paying for in her premiums.
Sometimes if it seems to good to be real, it probably is.
To answer your actual question, yes, her POA should be able to change her insurance, I did for my dad.
You can't change her Medicare Plan, but AARP is United Health Care, a supplemental insurance plan. I think your POA for financial would allow you to drop the AARP and replace it, but Medicare is much like Social Security; they define and demand whole other things.
I would speak with AARP. They are more expensive than my Kaiser by FAR but they were great with my brother, and they were great with me as his POA in sending me copies of everything they covered, in accepting my checks as POA, and in his coverage. I would speak with them. The number is on the card.
Then you can call Medicare at 1-800-Medicare. Find out what you need to do to function in any changes, if necessary to his plan. My brother was able to be on the phone with me, his POA and Trustee, and to give Medicare permission to mail his statements to me; I don't know what steps we would have had to go through otherwise. With Social Secuity, if changes are needed, you must become representative payee, with letters of incompetency, and with your careful record keeping and filings with them.
I will tell you that if you are new to this, financial POA, you have a steep learning curve and the best way to do it is call, wait all that time online for a representative and speak directly to them. Medicare and SS have excellent websites as well, but it was a solid year of learning for me. And so much to know that 5 years later I have a real difficult time remembering the anxiety of the many hoops to be jumped through. I sure wish you good luck.
The Advantage and supplemental plans can be very state-specific, so it may be best to consult with a health insurance agent who is experienced with Medicare plans.
Generally speaking (and I live in MN) Advantage Plans are lower cost with lower co-pays and some perks but really best if you are a very healthy senior with no pending surgeries or chronic illnesses. My husband (67) started with an AARP/UHC Advantage Plan. The plans change every single year so what they say they cover in 2025 may not be the case in 2026.
We have a BCBS supplement because it includes the Mayo, and has a lot of national coverage (and some international). The co-pays are higher but it's a bigger network and covers more.
Yes, you will definitely need to consider your Mom's current network and the implications if you switch. But you also need to consider what her current and potential health/medical needs are.
I'm not a professional and I strongly recommend you talk to one in your Mom's home state. If you aren't yet 65 then the Medicare "maze" may be really confusing to newbies. So, talk to an expert first.
By proceeding, I agree that I understand the following disclosures:
I. How We Work in Washington.
Based on your preferences, we provide you with information about one or more of our contracted senior living providers ("Participating Communities") and provide your Senior Living Care Information to Participating Communities. The Participating Communities may contact you directly regarding their services.
APFM does not endorse or recommend any provider. It is your sole responsibility to select the appropriate care for yourself or your loved one. We work with both you and the Participating Communities in your search. We do not permit our Advisors to have an ownership interest in Participating Communities.
II. How We Are Paid.
We do not charge you any fee – we are paid by the Participating Communities. Some Participating Communities pay us a percentage of the first month's standard rate for the rent and care services you select. We invoice these fees after the senior moves in.
III. When We Tour.
APFM tours certain Participating Communities in Washington (typically more in metropolitan areas than in rural areas.) During the 12 month period prior to December 31, 2017, we toured 86.2% of Participating Communities with capacity for 20 or more residents.
IV. No Obligation or Commitment.
You have no obligation to use or to continue to use our services. Because you pay no fee to us, you will never need to ask for a refund.
V. Complaints.
Please contact our Family Feedback Line at (866) 584-7340 or ConsumerFeedback@aplaceformom.com to report any complaint. Consumers have many avenues to address a dispute with any referral service company, including the right to file a complaint with the Attorney General's office at: Consumer Protection Division, 800 5th Avenue, Ste. 2000, Seattle, 98104 or 800-551-4636.
VI. No Waiver of Your Rights.
APFM does not (and may not) require or even ask consumers seeking senior housing or care services in Washington State to sign waivers of liability for losses of personal property or injury or to sign waivers of any rights established under law.
I agree that:
A.
I authorize A Place For Mom ("APFM") to collect certain personal and contact detail information, as well as relevant health care information about me or from me about the senior family member or relative I am assisting ("Senior Living Care Information").
B.
APFM may provide information to me electronically. My electronic signature on agreements and documents has the same effect as if I signed them in ink.
C.
APFM may send all communications to me electronically via e-mail or by access to an APFM web site.
D.
If I want a paper copy, I can print a copy of the Disclosures or download the Disclosures for my records.
E.
This E-Sign Acknowledgement and Authorization applies to these Disclosures and all future Disclosures related to APFM's services, unless I revoke my authorization. You may revoke this authorization in writing at any time (except where we have already disclosed information before receiving your revocation.) This authorization will expire after one year.
F.
You consent to APFM's reaching out to you using a phone system than can auto-dial numbers (we miss rotary phones, too!), but this consent is not required to use our service.
My 93 year old friend was convinced to change, to save a few dollars, only to find out after the fact that NONE of her doctors were on the new plan, it has taken her over a year and a half to find new doctors.
She was also very surprised to find out she now has copays that far exceed annually what she was paying for in her premiums.
Sometimes if it seems to good to be real, it probably is.
To answer your actual question, yes, her POA should be able to change her insurance, I did for my dad.
I would speak with AARP. They are more expensive than my Kaiser by FAR but they were great with my brother, and they were great with me as his POA in sending me copies of everything they covered, in accepting my checks as POA, and in his coverage. I would speak with them. The number is on the card.
Then you can call Medicare at 1-800-Medicare. Find out what you need to do to function in any changes, if necessary to his plan. My brother was able to be on the phone with me, his POA and Trustee, and to give Medicare permission to mail his statements to me; I don't know what steps we would have had to go through otherwise. With Social Secuity, if changes are needed, you must become representative payee, with letters of incompetency, and with your careful record keeping and filings with them.
I will tell you that if you are new to this, financial POA, you have a steep learning curve and the best way to do it is call, wait all that time online for a representative and speak directly to them. Medicare and SS have excellent websites as well, but it was a solid year of learning for me. And so much to know that 5 years later I have a real difficult time remembering the anxiety of the many hoops to be jumped through. I sure wish you good luck.
Generally speaking (and I live in MN) Advantage Plans are lower cost with lower co-pays and some perks but really best if you are a very healthy senior with no pending surgeries or chronic illnesses. My husband (67) started with an AARP/UHC Advantage Plan. The plans change every single year so what they say they cover in 2025 may not be the case in 2026.
We have a BCBS supplement because it includes the Mayo, and has a lot of national coverage (and some international). The co-pays are higher but it's a bigger network and covers more.
Yes, you will definitely need to consider your Mom's current network and the implications if you switch. But you also need to consider what her current and potential health/medical needs are.
I'm not a professional and I strongly recommend you talk to one in your Mom's home state. If you aren't yet 65 then the Medicare "maze" may be really confusing to newbies. So, talk to an expert first.